Bluetongue vaccination: FVE urges EU members to take immediate action
Competent authorities in Europe should decide without further delay whether they plan to vaccinate against bluetongue, urges the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE).
“The main and probably only effective measure against bluetongue is vaccination”, stressed Jan Vaarten, FVE’s Executive Director, referring to conclusions of the EU Bluetongue conference, held in Brussels on 16 January.
However, the availability of sufficient quantities of vaccine, currently under development, is critical. The total number of doses required in Europe is estimated at around 150-200 million. “Taking into account that production alone will need six to eight months, it is essential that vaccination strategies are defined and the vaccines ordered as soon as possible, Mr Vaarten added.
The FVE urges competent authorities to take their decisions without delay, to “avoid losing an additional year in the fight against bluetongue – with all the consequences for animal health and welfare this entails.”
Last year, the EU adopted harmonised measures to monitor and control Bluetongue, giving clear conditions for the movement of animals. The EU Commission also announced that funds would be made available to reimburse the expenses made by the Member States in case of an emergency vaccination campaign: 100% of the vaccine costs and 50% of the vaccination campaign itself are to be covered by the EU.
Notes for Editors:
- The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) is an umbrella organisation of 43 veterinary organisations from 36 European countries, representing a total of around 200 000 veterinarians.
- For further information, consult the fve website http://www.fve.org or contact the FVE Secretariat on tel +32 2 533 70 20 or by e-mail to info@fve.org
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